US9158390B2ActiveUtilityA1

Mechanical actuator apparatus for a touch sensing surface of an electronic device

82
Individually held — no corporate assignee on recordPriority: Mar 8, 2013Filed: Mar 8, 2013Granted: Oct 13, 2015
Est. expiryMar 8, 2033(~6.6 yrs left)· nominal 20-yr term from priority
Inventors:Darren C. Petersen
Y10T29/49826G06F 3/033G06F 3/0338G06F 1/1607A63F 13/24A63F 13/98G05G 9/047G06F 3/0488A63F 13/2145G06F 3/0393
82
PatentIndex Score
16
Cited by
83
References
41
Claims

Abstract

A mechanical actuator apparatus for an electronic device having a touch sensing surface, includes a mechanical actuator having a base for accommodating a first magnetic member, an attachment member having a second magnetic member for engaging the first magnetic member, wherein the attachment member includes a surface configured to mount directly over and engage the touch sensing surface. The mechanical actuator further includes a conductive member for contacting the touch sensing surface, and a non-conductive member for spacing the actuator a distance from the touch sensing surface. The mechanical actuator can be a joystick, knob, directional pad, slider, or the like input device.

Claims

exact text as granted — not AI-modified
What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A mechanical actuator apparatus for an electronic device having a touch sensing surface, comprising:
 a) a mechanical actuator including a base for accommodating a first magnetic member; 
 b) a flexible attachment member including a second magnetic member for engaging said first magnetic member; 
 c) said attachment member including a surface configured to mount directly over and engage the touch sensing surface; 
 d) said mechanical actuator including a conductive member for contacting the touch sensing surface; and 
 e) said mechanical actuator including a non-conductive member for spacing the actuator a distance from and contacting the touch sensing surface. 
 
     
     
       2. The actuator apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein:
 a) said second magnetic member is immovably positioned relative to said attachment member. 
 
     
     
       3. The actuator apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein:
 a) said attachment member is immovably mounted over the touch sensing surface. 
 
     
     
       4. The actuator apparatus of  claim 3 , wherein:
 a) the surface of said attachment member includes a temporary or permanent adhesive. 
 
     
     
       5. The actuator apparatus of  claim 4 , wherein:
 a) said attachment member is made of a clear plastic film substantially corresponding in size to the touch sensing surface. 
 
     
     
       6. The actuator apparatus of  claim 5 , wherein:
 a) the mechanical actuator comprises a joystick. 
 
     
     
       7. The actuator apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein:
 a) said attachment member comprises a film having said second magnetic member embedded therein. 
 
     
     
       8. The actuator apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein:
 a) said attachment member comprises two films sandwiching said second magnetic member therebetween. 
 
     
     
       9. The actuator apparatus of  claim 8 , wherein:
 a) said second magnetic member comprises a magnetic mesh. 
 
     
     
       10. The actuator apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein:
 a) said attachment member comprises a film having said second magnetic member attached thereto. 
 
     
     
       11. The actuator apparatus of  claim 10 , wherein:
 a) said second magnetic member comprises a magnetic mesh. 
 
     
     
       12. The actuator apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein:
 a) the electronic device comprises a television, videogame monitor, videogame console, a gaming device, a desktop computer, a laptop computer, a tablet, a personal digital assistant (PDA), a fablet, a phablet, a cellphone, a mobile phone, a smartphone, or a combination thereof. 
 
     
     
       13. A joystick apparatus for an electronic device having a touch sensing surface, comprising:
 a) a joystick including a handle portion and a cooperating base portion; 
 b) said base portion including an upstanding sleeve; 
 c) said handle portion including a skirt portion for operably engaging said sleeve for thereby securing a first magnetic member therebetween; 
 d) an attachment member including a second magnetic member for engaging said first magnetic member; 
 e) said attachment member including a surface configured to mount directly over and engage the touch sensing surface; and 
 f) said base portion including a conductive member for contacting the touch sensing surface. 
 
     
     
       14. The joystick apparatus of  claim 13 , wherein:
 a) said second magnetic member is immovably positioned relative to said attachment member. 
 
     
     
       15. The joystick apparatus of  claim 14 , wherein:
 a) said attachment member is immovably mounted over the touch sensing surface. 
 
     
     
       16. The joystick apparatus of  claim 15  wherein:
 a) the surface of said attachment member includes electrostatic, magnetostatic, or electromagnetic properties. 
 
     
     
       17. The joystick apparatus of  claim 15 , wherein:
 a) the surface of said attachment member includes a temporary or permanent adhesive. 
 
     
     
       18. The joystick apparatus of  claim 13 , wherein:
 a) said attachment member comprises a film having said second magnetic member embedded therein. 
 
     
     
       19. The joystick apparatus of  claim 13 , wherein:
 a) said attachment member comprises two films sandwiching said second magnetic member therebetween. 
 
     
     
       20. The joystick apparatus of  claim 19 , wherein:
 a) said second magnetic member comprises a magnetic mesh. 
 
     
     
       21. The joystick apparatus of  claim 13 , wherein:
 a) said upstanding sleeve defines a recess therein for holding said first magnetic member. 
 
     
     
       22. The joystick apparatus of  claim 13 , wherein:
 a) said skirt portion defines a recess therein for holding said first magnetic member. 
 
     
     
       23. The joystick apparatus of  claim 13 , wherein:
 a) said attachment member comprises a film having said second magnetic member attached thereto. 
 
     
     
       24. The joystick apparatus of  claim 23 , wherein:
 a) said second magnetic member comprises a magnetic mesh. 
 
     
     
       25. The actuator apparatus of  claim 13 , wherein:
 a) the electronic device comprises a television, videogame monitor, videogame console, a gaming device, a desktop computer, a laptop computer, a tablet, a personal digital assistant (PDA), a fablet, a phablet, a cellphone, a mobile phone, a smartphone, or a combination thereof. 
 
     
     
       26. A mechanical actuator apparatus for an electronic device having a touch sensing surface, comprising:
 a) a mechanical actuator including a base for accommodating a magnetic member; 
 b) a flexible attachment member including a magnetic mesh for engaging said magnetic member; 
 c) said attachment member including a surface configured to mount directly over and engage the touch sensing surface; 
 d) said mechanical actuator including a conductive member for contacting the touch sensing surface; and 
 e) said mechanical actuator including a non-conductive member for spacing the actuator a distance from and contacting the touch sensing surface. 
 
     
     
       27. The actuator apparatus of  claim 26 , wherein:
 a) said attachment member comprises a film having said magnetic mesh attached thereto. 
 
     
     
       28. The actuator apparatus of  claim 27 , wherein:
 a) said film substantially corresponds in size to the touch sensing surface. 
 
     
     
       29. The actuator apparatus of  claim 28 , wherein:
 a) said magnetic mesh corresponds in size to said film. 
 
     
     
       30. The actuator apparatus of  claim 28 , wherein:
 a) the mechanical actuator comprises a joystick. 
 
     
     
       31. The actuator apparatus of  claim 26 , wherein:
 a) said attachment member comprises two films sandwiching said magnetic mesh therebetween. 
 
     
     
       32. The actuator apparatus of  claim 26 , wherein:
 a) the surface of said attachment member includes a temporary or permanent adhesive. 
 
     
     
       33. A method of attaching a mechanical actuator apparatus to a touch sensing surface, comprising the steps of:
 a) providing a mechanical actuator apparatus, comprising:
 i) a mechanical actuator including a first magnetic member; 
 ii) a flexible attachment member including a second magnetic member for engaging the first magnetic member; 
 iii) the attachment member including a surface configured to mount directly over and engage the touch sensing surface; 
 iv) the mechanical actuator including a conductive member for contacting the touch sensing surface; and 
 v) the mechanical actuator including a non-conductive member for spacing the actuator a distance from and contacting the touch sensing surface; 
 
 b) mounting the attachment member immovably over and in engagement with the touch sensing surface; and 
 c) manipulating the mechanical actuator so as to engage the first magnetic member with the second magnetic member. 
 
     
     
       34. The method of  claim 33 , wherein:
 a) the mechanical actuator comprises a joystick actuator. 
 
     
     
       35. The method of  claim 34 , wherein:
 the joystick actuator, comprises:
 i) a joystick including a handle portion and a cooperating base portion; 
 ii) the base portion including an upstanding sleeve; and 
 iii) the handle portion including a skirt portion for operably engaging the sleeve for thereby securing the first magnetic member therebetween; and 
 iv) the base portion including a conductive member for contacting the touch sensing surface. 
 
 
     
     
       36. The method of  claim 35 , wherein:
 the base portion defines a recess therein for holding the first magnetic member. 
 
     
     
       37. The method of  claim 35 , wherein:
 the skirt portion defines a recess therein for holding the first magnetic member. 
 
     
     
       38. The method of  claim 33 , wherein:
 the second magnetic member comprises a magnetic mesh. 
 
     
     
       39. A method of attaching a mechanical actuator apparatus to a touch sensing surface, comprising the steps of:
 a) providing a mechanical actuator apparatus, comprising:
 i) a joystick actuator including a first magnetic member and comprising:
 a joystick including a handle portion and a cooperating base portion; 
 the base portion including an upstanding sleeve; 
 the handle portion including a skirt portion for operably engaging the sleeve for thereby securing the first magnetic member therebetween; and 
 the base portion including a conductive member for contacting the touch sensing surface; 
 
 ii) an attachment member including a second magnetic member for engaging the first magnetic member; 
 iii) the attachment member including a surface configured to mount directly over and engage the touch sensing surface; 
 iv) the mechanical actuator including a conductive member for contacting the touch sensing surface; and 
 v) the mechanical actuator including a non-conductive member for spacing the actuator a distance from the touch sensing surface; 
 
 b) mounting the attachment member immovably over and in engagement with the touch sensing surface; and 
 c) manipulating the mechanical actuator so as to engage the first magnetic member with the second magnetic member. 
 
     
     
       40. The method of  claim 39 , wherein:
 the base portion defines a recess therein for holding the first magnetic member. 
 
     
     
       41. The method of  claim 39 , wherein:
 the skirt portion defines a recess therein for holding the first magnetic member.

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